This year’s Strictly Come Dancing is still weeks from its end, but it seems that judge Craig Revel Horwood is already tipping some stars for next year’s lineup.
Following the show’s glitzy Blackpool Special, the outspoken judge revealed he enjoyed late-night drinks with comedy star Paul Chuckle and Gogglebox favourites Pete and Sophie Sandiford.
Joined by one of this year’s contestants, Lewis Cope, Craig posed for a group snap with the stars who joined him in the bar after watching the Strictly show from the audience.
It was an eventful evening as it was also announced that none of the remaining couples would be eliminated this week, after La Voix was forced to withdraw from the show due to injury.
Posting the snap on Instagram, Craig wrote: ‘I didn’t think anything could top one of the best #bbcstrictly episodes I’ve ever seen except a late night catch up with the phenomenon that is @lewiscope AND the growing Chuckle TV Dynasty that is @officialpaulchuckle @sophiesandiford1 @sandifordpete who are all as hilarious as each other. Perfect candidates for 2026 if you ask me.’
Gogglebox fans were also recently stunned to learn that Paul is actually Pete and Sophie’s uncle.
Strictly judge Craig Revel-Horwood has tipped Paul Chuckle and Gogglebox stars Pete and Sophie Sandiford for the 2026 series after enjoying late-night drinks with them in Blackpool
Joined by one of this year’s contestants, Lewis Cope, the judge posed for a group snap with the stars who joined him in the bar after watching the Strictly show from the audience
Known formally as Paul Elliott, 77, he appeared on BBC programme ChuckleVision from 1987 to 2009 with his late brother Barry.
The children’s TV icon shared a throwback photo of himself with Pete and Sophie, both 30, on Instagram recently as he wished his niece a happy birthday.
He captioned the picture: ‘Happy 30th birthday my lovely grand niece Soph … you were only 24 here. Lots of love from us both [Paul and his wife Sue] xx’
Sophie replied to the heartfelt post: ‘Thank you uncle Paul and auntie sue❤️ love you both xxxx’
Pete and Sophie, from Blackpool, have been regulars on Gogglebox since 2018.
As the show kicked off, Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman dazzled in stunning ballgowns for their last ever Blackpool Week – after the duo announced they are leaving the show after the end of this series.
However Strictly fans were met with disappointing news as the pair confirmed that La Voix had been told by medics she could not continue on with the competition.
The drag queen was spotted in the front row of the audience looking forlorn as the announcement was made.
Minutes later the remaining celebrities were left shocked as Tess revealed that nobody would be going home this week, with the dance off cancelled and all scores rolling over to next week’s show.
Craig was also seen leaving the glitzy wrap party after Strictly’s Blackpool special, where it was revealed that none of this year’s couples would be eliminated this week
Paul Chuckle, who previously performed in a comedy duo with his late brother Barry, was also seen leaving the wrap party
Taking to Instagram minutes after the announcement of her exit was made, La Voix shared a statement.
She wrote: ‘I’m absolutely devastated to be withdrawing from Strictly Come Dancing. This isn’t the glittering exit I ever imagined, and it breaks my heart to feel like I’ve let people down.
‘My spirit wanted to keep dancing but my foot had other ideas! Thank you for every cheer, every vote and every sparkle of support – it’s meant the world to me. This isn’t the ending I imagined but I’ll cherish this forever.’
First to take to the dance floor was Lewis Cope and his professional partner Katya Jones who performed a Charleston.
The dance left judge Anton Du Beke speechless and Craig Revel Horwood had just one word for it, ‘fabulous’.
The astounding dance gave Lewis his second perfect score of 40, after he was the first celebrity to achieve it this series.
Next up was Balvinder Sopal and her dance partner, newbie Julian Caillon, with a very racy Argentine Tango.
Despite looking disappointed with her performance, Balvinder impressed the judges, with Motsi Mabuse calling her the ‘comeback queen’ – as a result of facing four dance offs.
Balvinder came back with a bang and achieved her highest score of the series so far, with three eights and a nine.
Amber Davies and Nikita Kuzmin then performed a bouncy Quickstep to S Club 7 hit Reach For The Stars.
As is tradition with Blackpool week, the celebrities were joined on the dance floor by a group of other professional dancers.
Craig was met with a sea of boos as he criticised Amber’s gapping but he went on to say her timing and ability to cover the floor were ‘exceptional’. The pair scored 36 out of 40.
Next to perform were Lioness Karen Carney and her partner Carlos Gu, who danced a very dramatic Paso Doble, and the dance was met with a standing ovation from the crowd – as did Motsi and Shirley.
‘Darling that’s how you score a goal that’s for sure. Insane,’ said Craig, before Motsi added: ‘I do not have a paddle that can express how good that dance was.’
Lewis earned his second 40 of the series as he kicked off Strictly’s Blackpool show, after impressing with his Charleston with Katya Jones
Meanwhile Shirley said the show will go down in history and Anton said he wished he could score her 25 points. She bagged a score of 39 for the dance.
Alex Kingston and her partner Johannes Radebe were next with their Couple’s Choice dance, a glamorous and sultry number – for which they scored 35 points.
George Clarke closed the iconic Blackpool show with a salsa, accompanied by his dance partner Alexis Warr.
The YouTuber impressed the judges with his energy in the routine, with Shirley hailing it a ‘new day with a new George and a new vibe’. She confessed she wasn’t expecting that level of performance from him.
The pair achieved a huge score of 39 for the routine, their highest yet.
